The Balladeer listens to the account with obvious interest. He loves hearing about other people's stories in their own words. They always put things differently than he would, emphasizing some things and downplaying others and adding their own spin. It tells you what's really important to them. And if that spin is more along the lines of outright lies, well, that tells you something too.

"Well, I don't know a lot about magic," he says encouragingly, "But I'm sure it'll come with practice! Just like learning to play an instrument, right?" At least, he understands that other people had to practice to learn.

The fact that the other Crystal Gems all have actual gemstone names doesn't fly past him. But Steven's young - maybe he'll get one when he graduates from training or whatever. "Are there only the four of you? For the whole world?"